Holy Week Journey & Easter: It’s not a ditto

Category: DS Castings

We are in the midst of the journey aren’t we? We are once again walking the road with Jesus through the last week of his life concluding at the empty tomb. Having had the privilege of travelling to the Holy Land on six different occasions, the sights of the events of Holy Week are there in my memory banks. I recall the winding road from the Mount of Olives to the city of Jerusalem that may well have been the path taken on Palm Sunday. I recall the garden where prayer was offered and a decision finalized. I recall stepping into the stone tomb and imagining that first Easter morning. It is a road we walk every year and even if we’ve never been to the Holy Land, we imagine the events and picture them in our minds as we experience the messages of each day of this profound week through the worship services we attend.

Some would suggest there is a challenge in keeping it fresh. I recall reading an article some years ago in a clergy magazine that addressed this issue and I still remember the writer’s line. He said, “how do we keep Easter meaningful every year and not just have it be simply, ditto.” I remember reading that and almost recoiling. Ditto?? Ditto? Really? Preachers really struggle with this? I mean I understand what he was saying on one level. The message of Holy Week and ultimately Easter is the same message every year. We read the same Scriptures, we rehearse the story with similar songs and similar phrasing. BUT — oh my goodness — Easter a ditto!? Never.

Easter — resurrection — is a message that changes everything. It is not a static idea or an event bound only to the past. It is new every morning. Resurrection shouts to us every day informing us that the past is gone and the future is ripe with possibility. Everything is new in every new moment. Resurrection shouts the message that hope is real and that forgiveness is unequivocal. Easter banners the future with possibility and closes the door on the idea that what has been will always be. Easter is a moment by moment promise that anything can experience resurrection, death itself has been defeated and life is forever different because of that reality.

Easter a “ditto?” Never!

Peace
Bill

P.S.

Some have asked me recently as I approach retirement if I am getting senior-itis!? I’m not really. There is still way too much to do between now and the end of June. I am, however, beginning to finish some things up and one of those things is my DS Castings blog. It has been a joy sharing my (often random) thoughts and my heart with you over these six years. I hope some of it has encouraged and challenged you along the way. May God continue to lead and bless us all as together we seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Thanks for reading.

I was reading Psalm 37 this morning and came across that oft quoted phrase from verse 4, “Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” This is one of those verses I think that people tend to cling to as a sort of “reward” verse. I think many of us read this verse and understand it to mean that if we “take delight” in the Lord, we will get the desires of our hearts. If – then. Kind of like if I pick the right numbers in Powerball, then I will win the jackpot — spiritually thinking of course! So we do our best to figure out what it means exactly to “take delight in the Lord.” And we often land on things that are in a negative direction.

By that I mean that we often see faithfulness to God or delighting in God related to the things we don’t do. Like giving things up during Lent (which can be a helpful discipline, but can also feed our pride and move us in the direction of showing God how faithful we are — the “if”). And of course once we do that, we look for the “then.” Then the desires of our hearts will be fulfilled. Man that sounds good, doesn’t it? All the things I want will come my way. There are some very popular preachers out there on TV who would tell us this is exactly what God is promising.

But that’s not how I read this verse. It’s a much better promise than me getting what I want! What I believe the Psalmist is suggesting, or at least is at the root of the message for us today, is that we “delight in the Lord,” as we learn — day by day — season by season — year by year — to appreciate and celebrate the essential goodness of God. As we see the true character of God revealed in Christ, lived wholly in Jesus, we long to have those characteristics alive in us. So the words of the Psalmist become more and more about transformation rather than acquisition.

As we delight in God, God puts within us the desires of our hearts. The closer we walk with God, the more our desires are shifted from self-centered focus to living out God’s love in the world. The desires of our hearts are transformed into a love for the disenfranchised, a longing to see everyone living in Shalom. A broken heart for those caught up in destructive behavior rather than a judgmental comparison of how much better we are than they are. A full-orbed understanding of the depth of grace we have received and a longing to offer that grace to all.

I have a long way to go until that way of life fills my being and represents the core of my desires. I am still moving on to perfection to be sure! But I’m grateful for this promise that God is working in me to reshape my desires into God’s. My prayer for all of us is that we might continue to cooperate with the Spirit, more and more, to live out God’s love in the world.

I think we like binary choices. Very often, we are not particularly fond of nuance and broader perspectives. Binaries are easier. They don’t require as much from us. It’s one of the reasons I have come to believe that some churches, especially non-denominational churches, are growing. They tend to offer binary choices. They tend (and I am only speaking about tendency ─ this is certainly not true of all), to offer “THE” answers rather than journey and exploration.

But the older I get, the more I am drawn to non-binary thinking. The older I get, the more I find myself attracted to those who offer bigger vision and help move us towards the possibilities of more than just two options; either this or that.

I’m grateful in that regard for the work of the Commission on A Way Forward. As I read their report to the Council of Bishops, I continued to be pleased with their ability to think between and beyond the “poles” we sometime place upon ourselves, and I embrace their invitation to think creatively about our future together.

While I must confess I sometimes struggle to see that way forward, I believe it’s critical that we continue to remain honest about the significant divide we face. I am grateful for those who invite us to imagine ─ beyond the binary ─ toward new possibilities of hope and life.

We are, as many of you know, in the midst of appointment season. This is the time of year when a number of our pastors are preparing to leave congregations and move to new ones and when some of our churches are preparing to say good bye to pastors and receive new ones. Probably about 15% of our churches experience pastoral change in any given year.

As a part of this process, there is what we call an introductory meeting. In the introductory meeting, the church SPRC gathers and the District Superintendent brings the new pastor and “introduces” him/her as the new pastor to these church representatives. It is called an introductory meeting because the expectation is that the Bishop has made the appointment and now we are introducing the pastor to the church and the church to the pastor. This is an introduction as opposed to an interview.

I have done eleven introductory meetings so far this year and they have been rich times. I suppose it is a little awkward. Our system of “arranged marriage” can be a challenge at times! But I am amazed at how often there is almost an immediate spark in that initial meeting. A connection, a sense of joy and hope and new life. The pastor sees, for the first time, into the heart of the congregation he/she is coming to serve. The SPRC members likewise get an indication of who this new clergy person is, along with a glimpse into the future of his/her new ministry. It is an honor and a humbling experience for me to watch it unfold in that hour or so together. It really has a wonderfully holy feel to it all.

Oh there are moments during our time together that bring about challenges to be sure. Someone asks a tough question and we wait to see how it is handled. Is there grace and an openness to hear one another? So often as I watch this process unfold, I experience a sense of awe at what God is doing. I also experience —most often— a fresh sense of hope for that church, for that pastor, and even for the church as a whole.

There is plenty to be skeptical about these days, both inside and outside the church. There are reasons to doubt and to wonder what will become of us down the road. As we struggle together around the needs of families and spouses, with fewer and fewer clergy embracing a complete sense of itinerancy, we wonder about whether the whole way we do appointment making will be able to survive or even whether it should.

But even with all this to consider, I’ve experienced eleven nights the past few weeks where I have watched as a new pastor and congregation have begun a dance together and it’s been great!

I read one of my favorite passages from Luke’s gospel the other day, Luke 9:51. It tells us that Jesus, “resolutely set his face towards Jerusalem.” It is, for me, a profound statement about Jesus embracing the cross and all that it would mean for him personally. But when we put it in its context it says even more about what discipleship is all about.

This verse is bracketed by a conversation that John has with Jesus about an individual who has apparently been casting out demons in Jesus name, but who was not one of the disciples. John informs Jesus that they stopped the guy (he doesn’t indicate what they did to stop him, whether they spoke to him, warned him, or passed legislation at Conference to keep him out), but whatever means were used, they made it clear to him that since he wasn’t one of the official group he was not allowed to use the “Jesus brand.” Jesus informs John that they are not to stop him “for whoever is not against you is for you.” Jesus, as he sets his face towards Jerusalem broadens the definition of disciple.

Following Luke 9:51 is another event involving John and this time, his brother James as well. As Jesus and the disciples come to a Samaritan village they are, the text says, “Not welcomed because they are going to Jerusalem.” How it was known they were going to Jerusalem is not clear, but James and John are incensed about the attitude and suggest to Jesus that he call down fire on the people. I love one commentator’s suggestion that this event was the impetus behind Jesus’ later tongue in cheek reference to these two as the sons of thunder! In any case Luke tells us that Jesus “rebukes” them for their suggestion and they move on to another village.

So what do these two events — bracketing Jesus resolutely setting his face to Jerusalem — tell us? Well I think they reveal some misconceptions regarding discipleship. Discipleship is not about privilege. It’s not about us against them. It is always about the road to Jerusalem. It is always about setting our faces towards the places of sacrifice and offering grace. As one commentator has put it in describing the context of Luke 9:51:

“Taken with the episode that follows about the conditions of discipleship, the two scenes serve to correct wrong ideas of what it means to follow Jesus. Discipleship does not consist in zealous punishment of those who reject Jesus and his mission; nor does it consist in qualified following. All of this comes from the teacher who walks resolutely toward the goal.”

As we continue to walk through the days of this Lenten season, may we be those who walk resolutely with Jesus towards the goal of servant-hood and mercy, the true mark of a disciple.

I did something tonight that caused me some pain and some joy. What did I do? I read over some old sermons! Being the tech guy that I am and having had a computer since 1987, I have virtually all the sermons I have preached since that year on my hard drive. I’m not sure what I will ever do with them, but there they are representing my preaching ministry throughout the decades.

The reason that the experience of reading through them from time to time is painful is because some of them are well, not so good, could use some work, miss any significant point, and are just awful! While no one, no preacher shares an A+ sermon every week, sometimes I look back at what I’ve said and how I put things together and just cringe.

Moving on, (let’s please!), the reason looking back is at other times an experience of joy is I can see where I have been and I can identify places of growth. I see by the grace of God a depth of new light and insight. I see where I have been moved by the Spirit in the work of the sermons over time and from some points the sermons represent to now. It is often a point of deep celebration to see where God has guided my life and my experience of God over time. And I think it is a good practice to find ways to look back and give thanks for the ways God is at work in us.

Now my strong suspicion is that most of you don’t have a several decades long bank of sermons you can look back upon to do this reflection. But all of have markers along the journey that can reveal to us the steps we have taken along the way. We have ways and memories that we can engage to look back and see where God has led us and helped us to grow and change and go deeper in our faith.

Lent is a wonderful season to do this work. And I invite us all to devote some time during Lent to examine where God has brought us, to evaluate where we are, and where we have been. I trust you will find it a meaningful rehearsal for the growth and changes yet to come.

I attended a church last Sunday where, during the announcement time, they shared about how they would be participating in Ash Wednesday. What they are doing is providing the opportunity, over several hours during the day, for folks to drive up to the church’s covered turn around, roll down their window, receive the imposition of ashes, and be on their way. I’ve been thinking about that ever since Sunday.

Part of me applauds what I think they are trying to do. For those who know me you know I am a big fan of innovation. I love new things and creative ways of offering good news. So part of me says, “good for them.” They are trying to offer an opportunity for busy people who don’t have a lot of time to participate in Ash Wednesday. They want to give people who have half an hour for lunch a chance to experience a positive beginning to their Lenten journey. So again a part of me says “Amen” to that.

But another part of me worries a bit about the message we’re sending. A part of me worries if we are missing the point this year when, for the first time since the end of WWII, Ash Wednesday falls on the same day as Valentine’s Day. The comparison between what is most often the primarily feeling based expressions of love that tend to surround Valentine’s Day and the much deeper sacrificial love that is reflected in Ash Wednesday and Lent are a contrast to which we should pay attention. What proports to be love in our culture often falls far short of what the Christian faith identifies as love. Too often, Valentine’s Day love focuses on what I get from it and if I don’t get what I want then you’re not going to be my love very long. It is a consumer love that is ultimately incredibly shallow.

The love represented in our faith is love that is centered around a cross and the process of picking up that cross for ourselves in the various situations, circumstances, and relationships of our lives. It requires of us to love our enemies. It requires forgiveness and grace towards those who not only don’t ask for it, but who boldly stand defiant in their ongoing willingness to keep doing what they are doing (Luke 23:34). Ash Wednesday love requires of us a commitment to a course of living that reflects Jesus to a world that does not understand what real love is. And it requires of us a willingness to die for that same course of love rather than to give it up. and that reality takes me back to my drive-up friends.

I know their hearts are in the right place. And I may be wrong in my assessment (it certainly wouldn’t be the first time!!). But drive-up ashes seem to me to be Valentine’s Day love; easy, convenient, not very costly at all. Jesus love and the love he calls us to live out is so much more, so much deeper, so much more about a willingness to do whatever it takes to live it out even if it costs us everything we have. Maybe it’s me, but drive-up ashes just seem to fall short.

I usually think I’m right. It really only makes sense. If I didn’t believe my thinking was correct, I wouldn’t hold the opinions I do. I think that’s true for most of us right? Whatever the subject, whatever the issue being discussed, we have a perspective that we hold and that’s what we believe is correct.

Now, that’s not to say we are not perhaps open to influence. It’s not to say that on some issues we hold our convictions lightly and are willing to provide space for change. Often we are in varying degrees. And it’s not that we aren’t willing take the “live and let live” approach with those who see things differently than we do.

But sometimes it’s just hard to get there. Sometimes our convictions drive us to places of in-flexibility. We feel so strongly about our position it’s hard to provide any space for discussion, compromise, or difference. We believe we are right and the right we believe in is, or at least feels, central to our world view and sometimes even our faith.

This week we have been invited, by the Commission on a Way Forward, to pray. Our Bishop and the Council of Bishops have invited us to pray. We are being asked to bring before God our significant differences around human sexuality, the work of the Commission and the upcoming (2019) Special General Conference.

In the midst of our strongly held convictions, my prayer is that we might join together in this time to pray for our Church, for its mission, ministry, and future. I pray that even in the midst of those strongly held convictions we might hold one another up and ask the Holy Spirit to open all our hearts to what God wants to do in us and through us in this moment.

Our Bishop has provided to us this week the prayer below, and I offer it to you as well with my hope that God will guide and lead us through these days by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

Peace,
Bill

Gracious God, there is much still to be decided as The United Methodist Church moves into the future. Even in the unknown, even where there is chaos and confusion, remind us again and again of the power of your love which ripples through history changing lives, transforming the world, and creating new possibilities for kindness, compassion, caring, and connection. May these ripples of your love and grace flow freely out from us. May these ripples of your love and grace flow deeply into us. Enlarge our hearts. Enliven our minds. Expand our imaginations. Make gentle and generous our spirits. In Jesus’ name and for his sake. Amen. ~ Bishop David Bard

Last night was the State of The Union address. It is a time when the President shares with the Congress and the country his perspective on where we are and where he is seeking to lead us into the future.

While we could have, I’m sure, a good conversation about our particular personal perspective in relationship to the current President (as I suppose with past presidents), I’m grateful for the Constitutional imperative and the tradition that has risen around it. The reason I feel that way is because I think it is a good thing — from time to time — to examine where we are and to take stock, if you will, of where we are heading just as a general principle.

And while I think this is true for the nation, I also think it is true for us as individuals and for other institutions as well. What would it be like if we ─ from time to time ─ laid out a State of our lives address? Here are my thoughts:

What if we considered the direction we were going in love as a follower of Jesus?

What if we considered the direction of our particular struggles and how we were dealing with them?

What if we asked ourselves where do we go from here and what’s next in our lives?

What are the big decisions that we will need to make, and what will be the criteria for making them?

What if we took a similar look at our marriage if we’re married or the other close relationships of our lives?

Are we paying attention to the needs of our spouse or significant other?

What habits have we developed as a couple that may be subtlety creating difficulty and moving us away from one another rather than closer to one another?

What are we doing well?

What do we celebrate and give thanks for in our relationship?

What about the congregation of which we’re a part, what is there to offer thanks around?

Where are the struggle points, the places where we are falling short of our mission, and how might we give ourselves and our time to see it change?

I am a fan of the State of the Union idea. I think it’s a good one. We should ─ from time to time ─ consider where we are and where we are going. If we don’t, we might well end up in a place we don’t want to be, wondering how we got there.

I am looking forward to Saturday. If you haven’t heard we are gathering Saturday morning to celebrate the Grand Rapids District as we anticipate July 1st when the Michigan Annual Conference will begin functioning with 9 new Districts rather than the current 12 Districts of the West Michigan and Detroit Annual Conferences. It is on that day that the Grand Rapids District will cease to exist and the new District will begin functioning. Click HERE for details about the Jubilee Celebration on Saturday, January 27!

But before that happens we are going to celebrate! Over the past few weeks I’ve been doing videos with former Superintendents and they have been sharing their recollections of their time on the District. These videos will be a part of the worship experience on Saturday. Bishop Laurie Haller will be with us bringing her recollections and a message of hope for the future as our preacher for the morning. There will be wonderful music and we will share together around the Table of the Lord that has bound us, and continues to bind us together in God’s love.

There is a lot to celebrate as we move into this one new Conference and the nine new District structure. I believe the new Michigan Conference is committed to and designed well to enable all our local churches to be even more effective in Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.

But before we do that, before we step into this new future, we are going to pause and say thanks to God and to one another for what has been. I hope you will plan to be there. There’s still time to sign up for the lunch following worship which will be another opportunity for fellowship and celebration. Don’t miss this time together, it’s going to be great!